Retractable tool handle



March 24, 1953 E. A. JOHNSON RETRACTABLE TOOL. HANDLE Filed Feb. 9, 1951 FIG. '2

FIG. I

ERNEST A. JOHNSON AGENT Patented Mar. 24,1953

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE Ernest A. Johnson, Duluth, Minn. Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,121

This inventionrelates to screwdrivers and has special reference to a double bladed screwdriver. One. of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a screwdriverwherein two sizes or types'of blades are available in one tool, thereby decreasing the number of individual tools required'for a mechanic or the like to carry with him or have in his tool box.

Another object is to provide convenient means to permit switching from one blade to the other.

. Another object is to provide a device as set forth above in a most convenient and inexpensive manner;

Another object is toprovide for such a tool which Willbe sturdy, that is, the blades will be held securely against looseness or wobbling when 1n use.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description of m invention proceeds. i

' In the accompanying drawing forming a part.

of thisapplication:

Fig. l is an elevational view, partly. in section, of a screwdriver made in accordance with. my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the com- 7 binedshaft and blade member of my screwdriver.

Fig 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the spring engaging washers which are carried on the shaft member of my device.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the base or footing members against which the cross arm is engaged to hold the blades and shaft in place.

Fig. 6 is a plan viewof Fig. 5.

In the drawingfthe reference numerals indicate the two "sections which form the handle of my screwdriver, the sections Il being, preferably, molded of plastic material or the like, and being fixed permanently together when the parts of my screwdriver are assembled. The two'halves l-l are preferably identical so that one mold will make each of the halves, the halves being provided with an external surface which is grooved, as at 2,"toprovide a good hand grip for the tool;

The interior of the handle is provided with a plurality of communicating cavities in which the working parts of my device are operatively carried. One of the said cavities is a preferably round hole or bore 3 which extends entirely through the handle, axially thereof. This bore provides for stability of the shaft 4 of the screwdriver, the shaft being reciprocable in the said bore. It is to be understood, of course, that the 2 Claims. (Cl. 14564) 2 cavities are formed partly in each half of the handle;

Adjacent each end of the handle l--l, a relatively short chamber 5 of larger diameter than the bore 3 is provided, and a pair of diametrically opposed channels 66 are provided in the handle between the chambers 5, the channels communieating with the bore 3 alongtheir entire length, and forming lateral extensions from the bore 3. The shaft 4 of my device has a blade 1 at one end thereof-,and a blade 8 at the opposite end thereof, and it is deemed that these blades can be of different sizes or types, asdesired, to suit circumstances. It may be desired in some cases to have either two conventional blades of dif- 9 is provided which extends radially from the shaft on each side thereof, the cross-arm 9 being of such size as to fit in the opposed channels.

6-6 when the shaft is mounted in the bore 3. It is deemed apparent that the shaft 4 may be reciprocated freely in the bore when the cross arm is within the channel 66, and that the shaft may be reciprocated to each end of the handle so that the cross-arm extends into one or the other of the chambers 5. While the crossarm is within the channels 65, the shaft 4 cannot be rotated axially; however, when the cross-arm is within either of the chambers 5, the shaft is readily rotatable axially, and when the shaft is so rotated that the cross-arm is out of alinement with the channels, it will abut the inner end wall H] of the chamber 5. This will hold the shaftfrom movement back into the bore 3, and will provide a solid stop or bearing for,

the cross-arm to hold the shaft from rearward movement when pressure is applied on the tool blade from the handle. 1

Both ends of the device being the same, I will describe the structure of only one. Iprefer to provide a diametric notch II in the wall I 0 of each chamber .5 at right angles to the channels washers are preferably of substantially the same diameter as the chamber, and serve as a base or stop against which one end of the expansive spring I3 is engaged, the spring being carried around, or surrounding the shaft 4 with its opposite end engaged against the outer end wall I4 of the chamber 5, one spring i3 being in each chamber, of course. The washer is pressed against the cross-arm 9 by the spring I3, and this provides a constant bias to maintain the cross-arm within the notch I i once seated therein.

Thus, it will be seen that when one of the blades is in extended position, the cross-arm 9 may be engaged and held in the notch I i at the end of the hande l| adjacent the extended blade and the shaft 4 will be held against rearward movement as weil as from axial rotation and the extended blade can be used as a conventional screwdriver to either tighten or loosen screws and the like. The shaft 4 also will be held against wobble because of the extended bearing provided for the shaft in the bore, the portion of the shaft within the handle being almost entirely closely surrounded by the Walls of the bore 3, except where the shaft passes through the chambers 5.

When it is desired to use the blade at the oppsite end of the shaft 4, all that is required is to grasp and pull outwardly on the the extended blade against the spring IS with one hand while the handle is held in the other hand. This will pull the cross-arm 9 out of the notch i! so that the shaft 5 may be rotated until the cross-arm is alined with the channels 6-6 when the shaft can be pushed through the bore so that the shaft extends through the opposite end of the handle and the other blade is exposed for use. Then, by grasping the opposite end of the shaft and pulling the cross-arm against the washer and spring i3 on the opposite end of the handle, the cross-arm may be rotated to seat in the notch l i on the opposite end of the handle, making the other blade available for use.

I have here shown a metal reinforcing member 15 with which I have lined the inner end wall it of the chamber 5 and the notch i I, the reinforcing member l5 being shaped to the contour of the wall i0 and notch H, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This member l5 could be held in place by the bias of the spring I3, or by means of suitable lugs 16, extending into suitable grooves I! in the side walls of the chamber 5, as shown. The member i5 will, of course, prevent excessive wear on the less durable plastic of the handle from the rotation of the shaft 4, and will also reinforce the notch I l to withstand the rotational stress of the cross-arm when the tool is in use.

As seen in Fig. 6, the member iii is provided with an opening it similar to the opening 366 through the handle to permit the cross-arm and shaft to be reciprocated and rotated in accordance with the above described operation of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A tool comprising a handle, said handle having a bore therethrough axially thereof, a tool blade shaft carried within said bore, said shaft being reciprocable within said handle so that either end thereof may be extended from said handle, means on said shaft engageable with portions of said handle to prevent the reciprocation and rotation of said shaft when said shaft is extended from either end of said handle, said means comprising a cross-arm on said shaft substantially centrally thereof, said bore having channels extending diametrically therefrom to receive said cross-arm when said shaft is rotated, said handle having a chamber adjacent each end thereof communicating with and of larger diameter than said bore and communicating with said channels to permit said shaft to be rotated axially bringing said cross-arm out of alinement with said channels, a recess in each end of said handle communicating with said chamber to receive said cross arm, means said recess bracing said arm to prevent rotation of said shaft within said handle, and said recesses being on the side of said chambers towards the center of said handle whereby said cross-arm engages portions of said handle to prevent longitudinal movement of said shaft when inward pressure is applied to the extended end thereof.

2. A tool comprising a handle, said handle having a bore therethrough axially thereof, a tool blade shaft carried within said bore, said shaft being reciprocable within said handle so that either end of said shaft may be extended from said handle, means on said shaft engageable with portions of said handle to prevent the reciprocation and rotation of said shaft when said shaft is extended from either end of said handle, said means comprising a cross-arm on said shaft substantially centrally thereof, said bore having channels extending diametrically therefrom to receive said cross-arm when said shaft is rotated to be in aiinement therewith, said handle having a chamber adjacent each end thereof communicating with and of larger diameter than said bore to permit said shaft to be rotated axially bringing said cross-arm out of alinement with said channels whereby said cross-arm engages portions of said handle within said chambers to pre-- vent longitudinal movement of said shaft, spring means biasing said cross-arm against said portions of said handle, said chambers having an inner end Wall, and a diametric notch in said Wall in which said cross-arm is engaged to prevent axial rotation of said shaft, said cross arm being removable from said notch by moving same against the tension of said bracing means whereby said shaft may be rotated to aline said cross arm with said channels to permit the extension of said shaft from either end of said handle.

ERNEST A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 138,528 'Reed et al. May 6, 1873 445,380 Philip July 27, 1891 1,325,070 Andrews Dec. 16, 1919 1,429,861 Flodin Sept. 19, 1922 

